Chapter Seven

Devon

 

Devon took a deep breath and positioned his hands on his golf club, gloved hand on top. He planted his feet, shoulder width apart, on the lush green lawn and bent his knees slightly. With a fluid motion, he brought the club back and swung, pivoting his right foot in the process. He squinted against the midday sun and lifted his visor to spot where the ball had gone. It wasn’t until he heard the sound of a woman clearing her throat behind him did he realize the ball still sat in the same spot.

“Are you serious, Dev?” his sister Laurene remarked from where she sat in a nearby golf cart with her boyfriend, Noah. She turned to Noah and grimaced. “He whiffed the ball.”

“Whiff?” Noah asked. “Does that mean he missed it?”

“Oh yeah, big time.” Laurene’s red ponytail swung about as she nodded. “Dev’s not the best golfer, but he usually does better than this. I have a feeling something or, more specifically, someone is distracting him.”

Devon rolled his eyes and exhaled. As much as he didn’t want to admit his older sister was right, she was. Ever since his date with Kylie last night, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He still didn’t understand why she’d ended the evening so abruptly. Had he said something to offend her? Why had she left without so much as a glance back?

Noah hopped off the cart and approached Devon with both hands in the pockets of his lime green shorts. He tilted his head of sandy brown hair up to look Devon in the eyes. “Is everything okay? You haven’t said much all morning. It’s not like you to be so quiet.”

“I just have a lot on my mind,” he murmured, wondering how much he should divulge to his friend. Noah had only started dating his sister recently and likely wasn’t the best person to ask for advice on women. But he obviously must’ve done something right to catch Laurene’s attention. “My date with Kylie didn’t go the way I’d hoped,” he finally admitted. “And now she’s not answering any of my calls or texts.”

“Sorry to hear that. You don’t have any clue what went wrong?”

Devon shook his head. He’d replayed their conversation over and over in his mind and had come up empty. “If I did, I wouldn’t be here right now. I’d be trying to fix things with her instead of playing my most pathetic round of golf ever.” Despite the beauty of the golf course which overlooked the ocean, Devon had no heart to enjoy the view or feel passionate about the charity he was supporting. Even his outfit of a gray polo shirt and black shorts reflected his somber mood. Everything appeared dull and uninspired now that Kylie had walked out of his life again.

“I don’t understand how you can care this much about a girl who dumped you.” Laurene strode over, exasperation darkening her green eyes. “It doesn’t make sense, but for some reason, you always try to see the best in people. Are you sure Kylie deserves a second chance?”

There was nothing Devon was more sure of. “She’s changed, Laurene. Kylie’s been through some hard times, but she’s come out for the better because of them.”

Laurene nodded. “I trust your judgment. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I’m willing to take my chances. She may be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t lose her again.”

“All right, then stop moping around,” she insisted. “Put yourself out of your misery and go find her. Please. I hate seeing you like this.”

 Go find her. Those three words bounced around in Devon’s head, even as he stood rooted in place. “Okay, I will.”

“Great!” She reached for his club. “I’ll take over for you here.”

He gave Laurene a wide-eyed look. “You may be dressed to play golf,” he began, eyeing her white golf skirt, “but you’ve never played a day in your life. Are you sure about this?”

She placed one hand on her hip and gave him a pointed look. “I’m pretty sure that between Noah and me, one of us will be able to hit the ball.”

Devon scoffed. “Very funny, sis.”

“Don’t worry about us.” Noah smiled. “You go find your girl.”

“All right, thanks.” Devon touched the rim of his visor in a brief salute goodbye and hopped onto the golf cart.

With determination coursing through his veins, he stepped on the gas and pushed the vehicle to its limits. The fresh ocean air filled his lungs and also cleared his mind. Laurene was right. Kylie was worth pursuing. He needed to let her know how he felt about her. He wasn’t ready to give up yet.

When he reached the edge of the golf course, he parked the cart and stepped onto the walkway leading to a modern-looking clubhouse. Before him stood several circular buildings situated around a large pond filled with red and gold koi. He made his way toward the main building, intending to thank the hosts of the charity before heading off. He also had in mind to ask them for recommendations of some upscale hotels in the area, possible places where a wealthy young woman might be staying. The social circles of the rich often overlapped, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the Joneses knew of Kylie or her parents.

A blast of cold air hit Devon in the face as soon as he stepped through the front doors. The air conditioning was on full blast, bringing quick relief from the humid heat. While the outside scene was a bright mix of green and blue hues, the inside of the clubhouse boasted darker, richer colors. Most of the furniture was made from reddish brown koa wood. The place reminded him of the clubhouse he frequented back home, but with a tropical feel. A couple of blue and yellow parrots hung out on a perch stand next to the reception area. The employees behind the desk wore Hawaiian print shirts and leis made from purple and white plumerias.

Devon took off his visor and golf glove and stuck them in his back pocket, then ran a hand through his short crew cut. He was about to walk over to the reception desk when he felt a tug on his leg.

He looked down, right into a pair of light blue eyes and a toothy grin. A young child about three or four had made herself at home on his black golf shoes. She hugged his calf so tightly, he imagined he could take a few steps without her falling off. Perhaps that’s what she was looking for—a free ride? But who did she belong to? Just as he wondered how he should pry her sticky hands off his leg, a woman called out in the distance.

“Molly! Where are you?”

The hair on the back of Devon’s neck stood on end. He’d recognize that voice anywhere. Glancing up, his gaze landed on the woman who had occupied his dreams all night. Her dark brown hair lay in a braid that was draped across one shoulder. She wore a casual outfit of a pink athletic top and black yoga pants with sneakers. After a moment of shock, he picked up his jaw and exclaimed, “Kylie? What are you doing here?”

Her complexion paled as embarrassment and fear flickered across her face. With a nervous smile, she rushed over to coax the little girl away. She avoided his eyes as she apologized, “Please excuse us, Mr. Brooks.” She then turned to Molly and pled with her, “Let’s go. We need to find your sister.”

The child shook her head resolutely and clung to Devon’s leg even tighter. It wasn’t until a fashionably dressed woman with stern eyes approached them that the little girl loosened her hold.

With a look of displeasure, Mrs. Jones shooed the girl away. She then greeted Devon with a sugary smile. “I see you’ve met my youngest. I do apologize for her behavior. She must have had one too many cookies today.”

“It’s no problem at all,” Devon reassured her. “I remember being that energetic once.”

“Yes, well, it seems the nanny is a little off her game today, letting her run amok like this,” she murmured out of the corner of her mouth as Kylie and her daughter walked away. “You’d think with the amount of money I pay her, she’d do a better job. It’s so hard to find good help these days, don’t you agree?”

Devon squeezed out a polite smile as Mrs. Jones lamented further about her staff. He swallowed his shock as the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. Kylie worked for the Joneses. Moreover, she had lied about her situation. But what bothered him the most was the fact that she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him. Now more than ever, he was determined to find her and get the truth.